Kevin Whitworth, Executive director
kevinwhitworth@kritfc.org | 907-574-0388
Growing up in McGrath, Kevin learned from his elders to love the land, the river, and the natural world from an early age. He spent many hours exploring, hunting, fishing, and trapping out in the woods and on the rivers. Through high school and college, Kevin spent his summers working as a biological technician at several wildlife refuges across the state. After graduating from University of Alaska Fairbanks, he worked a number of full-time positions for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including Deputy Refuge Manager for the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge in McGrath. Kevin has also worked for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and as the Lands and Natural Resources Manager for MTNT Limited, the McGrath village corporation. While working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kevin met his wife, Dara. They have a young son and daughter, and enjoy spending time at their remote cabin, dogsledding with their team of dogs, and being outside as much as possible. He joined BSFA and KRITFC in May 2018.
Justin Leon, LEAD Fisheries Biologist
justin@kritfc.org | 907-434-1038
Justin was born and raised in Georgia, where he found his love of fish and wildlife while attending the University of Georgia. He moved to Alaska after graduating and has made Alaska home since then. He studied fisheries at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he focused on Chinook salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. He worked as a Tribal liaison for the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society after spending 10 years with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. As a fishery biologist with the state, he worked with crab and salmon research, and wild fisheries stock management in Northwest Alaska, the Alaskan interior, and the Aleutian Islands. Justin lives in Anchorage, Alaska with his wife, Liz, and three sons. He enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, foraging, and spending time with his family in his free time.
ANDREW MAGEL, FISHERIES BIOLOGIST
andrew@kritfc.org
Andrew grew up in Connecticut, where he developed his love for wildlife and ecology. He came to KRITFC as a Fisheries Technician Jesuit/AmeriCorps volunteer in August 2022, and is excited to return to the Kuskokwim to work with KRITFC, its Tribes and its partners. While in Bethel, Andrew enjoys birding, berry-picking, and exploring the Kusko and the tundra.
Terese Vicente, programs manager
terese@kritfc.org | 907-545-7388
Terese grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where her deep appreciation for the ecology and beauty of the Pacific Northwest began. She first came to the Kuskokwim as a Jesuit/AmeriCorps Volunteer with KRITFC in August 2020. After two years with JVC Northwest, Terese is grateful to work full-time with KRITFC and its Member Tribes. Terese lives and works in Bethel, where she loves to pick berries, run outside throughout the year, and spend as much time as she can on the Kusko.
Amy Cook, Jesuit Volunteer/Fisheries Technician
amy@kritfc.org | 907-545-4379
Amy grew up in Missouri where she always had a love for the environment and appreciation of being surrounded by nature. She is a JVC Northwest member for the 2023-2024 year at KRITFC, and she is excited to learn from those around her and serve in the community. She now lives in Bethel and enjoys reading, birding, writing letters, and spending time outdoors with friends.
KRITFC also employs seasonal part- and full-time staff at our in-season salmon monitoring projects, including the Kwethluk River screw trap, Takotna River weir, and Community-Based Harvest Monitoring (CBHM) Program. Our in-season teams are fully staffed as of June 2022.
Interested in working with us? Send an email to info@kritfc.org.
Quyana, Tsen’anh, Thank you!